Story originally printed in the Tomah Journal or online at www.tomahjournal.com

Published - Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Obituaries for February 4

Randall Lee Billings, Jason Frederick Eckdahl, John D. Singleton, Genevieve D. (Rasch) Marquardt, Phyllis M. Schleicher

Randall Lee Billings

Randall Lee Billings, the son of Meril and Edna (Haas) Billings, was born May 14, 1951, at Estherville, Iowa. He died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008 at his home.

Randy was educated in the Emmet Consolidated country school to the eighth grade and graduated from Estherville High School in 1969. He attended Estherville Community College for one year. Randy was drafted into the U.S. Army and served from Feb. 1971 to Feb. 1973. On return from his military service in Panama, he was hired by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad. On Sept. 13, 1975 he was married to Sheryl “Sheri” Ballah at Union Baptist Church in Estherville, Iowa. Randy worked six months as a brakeman and then as an engineer until The Rock, as the railroad was newly named, dissolved in 1980.

For the next seven years Randy held a range of employments. He worked as a laborer for Estherville Scrap Iron and Metal Company; as a wash plant operator for Estherville Sand & Gravel; and as a propane salesman/driver for FerrellGas. He also did some roofing, farm labor, and over the road truck driving. In 1987 he returned to railroading, living in Upper Michigan and Wisconsin. He was employed with the Escanaba & Lake Superior, the Fox Valley and Western, the Wisconsin Central and the Canadian National Railroads. Randy saw many changes in railroading. He began with the five man crew and was part of a short lived experiment with one man trains.

Randy was a handyman who was always putting his many skills to work. He was an enthusiast of many sports, especially softball, trapping and fishing. He had an interest in every person he met, and to him there was no such thing as a stranger.

Randy is survived by his wife Sheryl; his two children, Rustin “Russ” Billings of Chicago, Illinois and Patty (Adam) Koester of Cedar Falls, Iowa; three brothers, Kenneth (Evalyine) Billings of Estherville, Iowa, Al (Elizabeth) Billings of Seneca, South Carolina, and Ed (Lisa) Billings of Storm Lake, Iowa; his mother Edna Billings of Estherville, Iowa, and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Meril Billings.

Cancer affected a large part of the last eight years of Randy’s life. The family wishes to express much gratitude to all the Franciscan Medical staff that Randy got to know so well for their above and beyond the call of duty care. We also owe our inexpressible thanks to friends and family for countless, countless caring words, prayers, cards, visits, and gifts of love.

Many years ago, Randy placed his dead hand in the extended hand of life of the forgiveness of Jesus the only Savior and humbly followed Him. So, Randy was content when God called him home by way of the long road. God’s grace made the hard trip into a scenic route of many powerful, joyous, and lovely views. God’s truth delivered him safely at the glorious destination of no end. God’s love has now unveiled to him the Indescribable Gift he received the moment he touched that hand of life. That same hand of life is extended to you.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. at Bible Ev. Free Church, 625 W. Veterans Street, Tomah. Pastor Timothy J. Erickson will officiate. Burial will be in East Side Cemetery, Esterville, IA.

Relatives and friends are invited to call Tuesday, at the church from 4 p.m. until the time of service.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Assisting the family with the arrangements.

Jason Frederick Eckdahl

Jason Frederick Eckdahl 26 of Tomah died Jan. 31, 2008. He was born in Tomah on Sept. 25, 1981 to Frederick and Linda (Richer) Eckdahl. He attended Tomah area schools. Jason was employed as a construction worker and drove cab for Ace Cab. He was a devoted and loving father. He also enjoyed cooking, traveling, and fishing with his boys.

He is survived by his 3 sons Benjamin, Joshua, and Nicholas, his mother Linda (Richard) Myer all of Tomah, maternal grandparents Ben (Helen) Richer of Mather, two brothers; Edwin Youngs and Aaron (Danielle) Youngs, all of Lafayette, LA, four sisters; Tina Youngs of Tomah, Nancy (Tom) Barnes and Debbie Dobbs all of MN, Tammy (Lynn) Laurent of TX, two step-sisters; Tina Murphy (fiancé David Delaney) and Jennifer Myer all of Tomah, he is also survived by aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Frederick, a sister Theresa Eckdahl, maternal grandparents Violet (Roy) Schlosser and an uncle James Richer.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, 11 a.m. at Church of Nazarene 25481 Cty Hwy ET, Tomah. Pastor James Leston will officiate. Burial will be in the Warren Mills Cemetery at Warrens. Relatives and friends are invited to call at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home 801 E. Monowau St., Tomah on Monday from 4 until 8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

Genevieve D. (Rasch) Marquardt

Genevieve D. (Rasch) Marquardt, 96, of Tomah died Friday, Feb. 1, 2008 at the Close to Home assisted living center. She was born Nov. 21, 1911 to Frank and Della (Prell) Rasch in the town of Tomah. She was united in marriage to Earl A. Marquardt on June 19, 1957 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 1997. He preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 1998. They made their home in Tomah, WI. They retired in 1974 and made their winter home in Mesa, Arizona for 24 years. She worked for the Ben Franklin Store, The Bassinet, and at the Job Corp at Camp McCoy. She was active in the Tomah Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and served as president for 7 years. She was a longtime member of the Helping Hand Society in Tomah, which is the oldest organization in Tomah over 118 years. She was also a member of the Milwaukee Road Railroad Women’s Club. She was a member of the Christian Chapel Church in Onalaska, and a member of the Central Christian Church in Mesa, AR.

She is survived by three sons, Stuart (Patricia) of Okauchee, WI, Bruce (Mary) of Belvidere, IL, and Kent (Renee) of Kirkland, Washington, 5 grandchildren, Robert, Eric (Jennifer), James, Joseph, and Craig (Bonita) Esrael, 4 great-grandchildren Linsey, Ryan, and Kelly Esrael, Cole Marquardt, a brother Roy (Betty) Rasch of Tomah, a sister Doris Allen of Mesa, AZ, a brother-in-law Tony Mangene of Tomah, nieces, nephews, other relatives and special friends Doris (David) Rezin, Rosie Schendel and Joan Hanson all of Tomah. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, and sister, Irene, and a sister-in-law Fern Mangene.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2006. 2 p.m. at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home. Bill McClure will officiate. Burial will be in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery

Relatives and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Saturday from 1 p.m. until the time of the service.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

Phyllis M. Schleicher

Phyllis Mary Schleicher, 76, of Tomah, died Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 at the Serenity House after a courageous battle with a blood disorder. She was born June 27, 1931 to Oscar and Mabel (Elliott) Rattle. She was a member of the Tomah Senior High School Graduating Class of 1950. She was united in marriage to George Schleicher on May 8, 1954 at St. Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. She worked at Burnstad’s Grocery Store; she worked at Vlasek Bowling Lanes for over 20 years, and delivered meals on wheels. Her hobbies were sewing, crocheting, knitting and making quilts for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed cooking and camping. Phyllis loved to spend time with her children and grandchildren. She attended Bethel Baptist Church.

She is survived by three daughters, Cheryl Ann (Kenneth) Georgeson of Camp Douglas, Deborah Ellen (Daniel) Frei of Camp Douglas, Michelle Marie (Todd) Hove of Tomah, seven grandchildren, Luke Ryan (Stephanie Rose) Georgeson, Cassie Ann (Vern) Stayton, Benjamin John Frei, Ethan Daniel Frei, and Andrew Elliott Frei, all of Camp Douglas, Todd Michael “T.J.” Hove Jr. of Tomah, Makyla Mary-Schleicher Hove of Tomah.

Two great-grandchildren Joshua Kenneth Steven Georgeson, and Haddie Doreen Georgeson, a brother Keith (Mitzi) Rattle of Denver, CO,

In addition, a sister-in-law Cora Rattle of Farmersville, LA, nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Joshua John Georgeson, 3 sisters Gwendyth Rodefer Barrett, Jeanne Ackerley and Iona Rudolph, 4 brothers, James, Richard and Oscar “Buster”, and John, and her former husband George Schleicher.

Funeral services will be on Monday, Feb. 4, 11 a.m. at

Bethel Baptist Church, rural Camp Douglas. Pastor Thomas Baker will officiate. A luncheon will be served immediately following the service at the church. Burial will be in the Warren Mills Cemetery. Relatives and friend are invited to call at the church on Monday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service.

The Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

John D. Singleton

John D. Singleton, age 81, of Camp Douglas, WI, was at home recovering from open heart surgery when he was stricken and rushed to Tomah Memorial Hospital where he died on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008. He was the son of Ralph and Ann Singleton and was born on Aug. 2, 1926, at home in Camp Douglas. John was a graduate of the Camp Douglas High School in 1944. He was drafted into the U.S. Navy Seabees in 1944, where he served in the South Pacific during WWII. He then attended the University of Wisconsin in 1946 in Madison where he met Mary M. McNeill of Janesville and they were united in marriage on Aug. 17, 1947, in Janesville. John’s great-great-grandfather, James Douglas, began a lumber camp in 1864; thus started the village of Camp Douglas.

John lived a long and full life. As a third generation owner-proprietor of Singleton’s Store in Camp Douglas, John cared for his customers and neighbors in the tradition of his grandfather (a humanitarian during the depression), E.D. Singleton. John was known by many for his friendliness and helpful nature, always ready with a recipe or to lend an ear or hand to a neighbor. His mother, Ann Singleton, known to all in the village as Grandma Ann, ran the store with attention to detail and personality until her death in 1976. John sold the store in 1978 and became a full-time rural mail carrier. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and boating. John served his community in many ways, serving on the Camp Douglas Village Board, establishing the first EMT training program in Juneau County, the Village of Camp Douglas Fire Department, where he was chief for 20 years, the Camp Douglas Ambulance, the Lemonweir Valley Telephone Board of Directors, a member of the 40 et 8, American Legion Post 133, the Lions Club, and the Camp Douglas Sportsman’s Club, where he excelled in shooting trap.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary, of Camp Douglas, and four children, John D. (Claudia) Singleton Jr. of Black River Falls, Elizabeth (John) Boltik of Lake Wales, FL, Robert (Carol) Singleton of Tomah and Susan (Jamie) Alexander of Palmyra, and by six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; three cousins, Phillip (Elizabeth) Hendrickson of Green Bay, Theresa Stamm of Mesa, AZ, and Joey Haase of Lompoc, CA.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, James in 1955 and Richard in 1956.

Funeral services with military honors were held today (Monday), Feb. 4, at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Camp Douglas with Rev. Stephanie Taylor Homan presiding. Relatives and friends called at the Hare Funeral Home in New Lisbon on Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. and at the church today from 10 a.m. until time of the services. Private family interment will be at a later date.

The Hare Funeral Home assisted the family with services. Online condolences and information available at www.harefuneralhome.com.

All stories copyright 2006 Tomah Journal and other attributed sources.